CAT S60: Rise of the resilient

These days people treat their smartphones like their children: keeping them out of harm’s way and making sure they’re always protected. But there are some who tend to drop or break their phones. Though there is a range of “tough” phones around, nothing can parallel the CAT S60. 

The phone might appear dull to some, is chunky and made up of polymer and metal. The front has three physical buttons, while the back comprises nano SIM and microSD ports. Yes, the phone doesn’t look stylish. But CAT achieves what it set out to do: the chunky design lets you roughhouse the phone in any way you want. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should start dropping it from various heights. CAT claims the phone can withstand shocks if dropped from heights up to 1.8 m. Apart from being “drop-proof”, the phone is waterproof as well, albeit to the depths of 5 m or less. However, before throwing it into the pool, you need to pay attention to the two switches on the front of the phone. They protect the speaker grilles when the phone is underwater. And these have two self-explanatory modes —2m and 5m — which can be used depending on the depth. So before dunking it in water, make sure the switch is flicked to the correct mode. 

The phone comes with a 4.7-inch display with a resolution of 720 pixels. Given the current competition, this might irk some. Under the hood, it houses an octa-core Snapdragon 617 processor with 3GB of RAM. Though not the best of its kind, the processor is still able to perform well. It is quite fast when it comes to navigation and apps, but you might feel the phone heat up a bit when you have several apps open. 

The S60 comes with a 13 megapixel (MP) primary and a 5 MP secondary camera. The output pictures aren’t extraordinary. Just like many other smartphones, this falters in the low-light segment, too.

But the S60 is not supposed to be your run-of-the-mill premium phone. The USP of the phone is not limited to one aspect. It comes with an app store called Toolbox, which includes apps based on construction, extreme sports and DIY projects. 

Also, this is the first smartphone to have a thermal imaging sensor. 

The S60’s FLIR thermal imaging sensor can be used to take pictures or record videos in infrared. Apart from making you feel like a sophisticated supersoldier, the sensor can be a great tool for hikers. Hikers would be able to see heat signatures left by nearby animals, apart from letting them see in absolute darkness. For those into DIY projects, the sensor can come in handy for identifying gas leaks or overheating appliances. 

At Rs 64,999, the CAT S60 is definitely expensive, but it’s not meant for the masses. However, with its rugged design and a thermal imaging sensor, the phone is a must have for those who love a bit of roughhousing.